Page 19 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - September 14
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including those of Habonim-Dror in the Anglo- Finally, with my advancing years, I may have
Jewish community despite a numerical decline. forgotten some names or got some facts wrong
and for this I apologize profusely.
Why Habonim in Liverpool ceased to exist
stemmed from a lack of support on the part of the Footnote: Incidentally during my adolescence I
community for whatever reason. Although the attended Quarry Bank High for Boys in
Jewish community was pro-Zionist, it was facing Liverpool and I was member of Sefton house at
intermarriage, assimilation and decline. The the school (houses split up into residential areas
community has strong connections and made a of the city). I was in the cross-country running
significant contribution to the general community team among other sports and in the house team
of the city. The DVD video about the Liverpool we had a youngster 3 forms lower than I named
Jewish community aptly called "Chicken Soup John Lennon. Those in the know will of course
and Scouse" illustrates the rich history of the remember that the original Beatles group were
community and the many Jewish lord mayors, called the "Quarrymen" named after the school.
civic dignitaries and scholars as well as the King Another contemporary was Brian Epstein, their
David School in the city much coveted by all manager, who used to sit in the row in front of
races and creeds. our family at Greenbank Shul. His family had a
record/music shop in the city centre and Brian
I am happily married to Irene, my Dutch schooled at the Liverpool College (public
Habonim connection, and we are proud to be a school).
part of the Habonim family in Israel.
Manchester Rikudim group - Baruch second left at back, between Les Blair and Mike Leigh
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